London Cathedrals & Churches

St Paul's Cathedral

This magnificent building, created by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666, retains its dignity and grandeur even though itis now overshadowed by enormous tower blocks. It is a huge structure, 515 ft long and 242 ft across at its widest point, and is elaborately decorated with columns, porticos, and balustrades. The west end of the cathedral is approached by two wide flights of steps and is surmuunted by twin towers. The whole building is crowned by a beautiful central dome which rises to 365 ft above ground level and is 112 ft in diameter.

Inside the Cathedral

From the end of the nave there is a superb view along the whole length of the cathedral through the Choir to the High Altar and its ornate canopy. Recorded commentaries describing the cathedral can be obtained from headphones at the west end of the nave. The great dome rises above the centre of the nave. Around its interior is thefamous Whispering Gallery, where a message whispered into the wall on one side can be clearly heard 112 ft away on the other side. The Gallery is reached through a doorway in the western corner of the South Transept tha t leads to the stairs which also give access to the library and the two external galleries of the dome wi th their panoramic views across London. In the Choir are the stalls of the St Paul's Cathedral Choir. They are the work of the great 17th-century woodcarver Grinling Gibbons. Beyond the Choir is the focal point of the whole cathedral- the High Altar. It is a modern replacement of the altar which was damaged during World War II, and is an exact copy of Wren's original design.

The cathedral contains numerous chapels, many of which contain exquisite furniture and  Dunstan, at the western end of the cathedral. Wren's cathedral originally contained no monuments, but towards the end of the 18th century these began to appear, and now there are several hundred in the building. The oldest is that of the metaphysical poet John Donne (1573-1631), who was Dean of St Paul's from 1621 until his death. Itis the only monument to have survived from the old cathedral and is situated in the South Choir Aisle. Almost filling the North Aisle is the huge monument to the Duke of Wellington. He is actually buried in the Crypt, beneath an imposing sarcophagus. The orna te funeral car in which his body was brought to the cathedral stands nearby.

Also in the Crypt is the tomb of Lord Nelson. His coffin lies beneath a black marble sarcophagus that had originally been intended for Cardinal Wolsey, and was also considered for Henry VIII. Standing among the graves of several well-known artists is Wren's own tomb. Above it, his tombstone carries the famous epitaph, 'Lector, si monumentum requiris, circumspice' ('Reader, if you seek his monument, look about you'). Many other tombs and memorials are contained in the Crypt, and also here is the Chapel of the Order of the British Empire, which was dedicated in 1960.

LudgateHill  EC4M 8AD Tel: 020 7236 4128   Email

Southwark Cathedral

Southwark Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Southwark, which stretches along the Thames from Thames Ditton in the west, to Thamesmead in the east, and south to Gatwick Airport. It is the cathedral for most of South London. The Cathedral Church was formerly the priory church of St Mary Overie and, after the Reformation, the parish church of St Saviour. In 1905, with the creation of the Diocese, it became the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie

London Bridge,  SE1 9DA Tel: 020-7367 6700  Email

Westminster Abbey

The principal centre for the coronation, marriage and burial of British monarchs, except Edward V and Edward VIII since 1066. The interior of the abbey is one of the finest achievements of English architecture. Built of Reigate stone with piers of green, grey and purple Purbeck marble, it has the tallest Gothic nave in the country (York Minster's, at 100 ft, is two feet shorter).

Westminster Abbey presents a stunning array of historical and commemorative monuments in a setting of outstanding architectural beauty- but it must be remembered that it is still a Christian church with regular services. The abbey is open daily, but when services are being held certain parts are closed to tourists.

Parliament Square  SW1P 3PA Tel: 020 7222 5152  Email

Westminster Cathedral

Westminster Cathedral is the mother-church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster. The Cathedral was designed by John Francis Bentley and is a contrast to the more conventional architecture of England’s other Anglican Cathedrals.

42 Francis Street,  SW1P 1QW   Tel: 020 7798 9055  Email